I, officially, have the Olympic fever. In six short days, Vancouver and Whistler will welcome over 2,200 of our world’s finest “winter sports” athletes to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Despite knowing for a few years that Vancouver won the Bid, it has only been in the past few weeks that my own proximity (and accessibility) to this once in a lifetime event has begun to resonate. With little effort, I find myself trying to absorb every Olympic-related publication, news report, Pod cast and TV show highlighting athletes, the sports and ongoing celebrations.
It’s not like I ever dreamed of being an Olympian or obsessed over a specific Olympic sport or athlete. I am in awe of some pivotal athletes that broke world records, overcame adversity and performed under the microscopic eyes of millions upon millions spectators. And even more awe striking are those that crashed out on their one chance and were forced to prepare for another four years to showcase their finely tuned skills and athleticism.
I’d be at it all day if listing all the Olympic moments that we Canadians may be most proud of. I can name two more recent athletes that have impressed us and stolen our hearts: Cindy Klassen and Clara Hughes. Cindy (Speed Skater) won five!! medals in Turin and another one at Salt Lake establishing a new career record for a Canadian. Clara’s versatility, or should I say seasonality, is beyond astonishing (she owns two bronze medals for cycling from 1996 and a bronze, silver and gold for speed skating from 2000). David Pelletier and Jamie Sale’s composure during the Russian judging scandal in Salt Lake 2002 when they were forced to share a gold medal showed their true love for skating and ability to rise above. I’d be remised not to mention the likes of Elisabeth Manley, Nancy Greene, Eddie the Eagle, Ken Read, Catorina Le May Doan and our Hockey Team. From a Canadian perspective, these athletes (and teams) have instilled rich Olympics memories in all of our hearts.
Luge, Skeleton and Bobsledding are three events that mystifying me. While worthy of serious respect, I know very little of the science, training or aerodynamic detail that goes into an Olympic performance (and I imagine it’ll stay that way for a while). I do know, however, that the Germanys have the Luge figured out and they’ll be one to watch in a couple of weeks. I have yet to watch the movie about the Jamaican Bobsledding team, Cool Running, but maybe that’d be a good place to start. I also steer clear of curling but I bet if I were from Winnipeg, I’d feel differently. Since I am not, I’ll stick to my favorites: Alpine or Nordic Skiing (cross, combined, biathlon, jumping, or freestyle) and Speed Skating (short track or long track) will have my undivided attention. I’ll tune into Hockey and perhaps some Ice Skating. Regardless, forever will I be awed by all the athletes and their dedication to arrive healthy and motivated for a chance of a lifetime performance and experience in the great venue.
For interest, I’ll share whom (Canadians) I am watching in 2010:
Nordic Skiing: Chandra Crawford, Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, and Sara Renner.
Long Track Speed Skating: Kristina Groves, Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen, Christine Nesbitt, and Jeremy Wotherspoon.
Alpine Skiing: Emily Brydon, Robbie Dixon, Erik Guay, and Britt Janyk
Honorable mentions:
Ice Skating: Patrick Chan (who else?)
Nordic Skiing: Brian McKeever (the four-time gold medalist from the 2002 and 2006 Paralympics will become the first winter-sport athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games). Amazing.
Last year when I raced the Ironman in Lake Placid, New York, it gave me a taste of what’s to come. The IM transitions (Swim to Bike and Bike to Run) and finish line were staged on the 1932 & 1980 Speed Skating Oval (outside in those days) and graced us with unforgettable views of the Ski Jump and Alpine venues. Seventy-Seven years later, the shops were still selling Olympic logo-ed merchandise, including some Vancouver 2010 logo-ed swag. Now that the Games are upon Vancouver and Whistler, what we have been anticipating is quickly becoming a reality. The stages are set: the snow, tracks, jumps, ice rinks, ovals, slides, and half pipes are ready for the best of the best to grace their surfaces with skill and finesse.
In my feverish state, I did some reading on stats. Did you know Canada has won 119 Winter Olympic Medals (38 Gold, 38 Silver and 43 Bronze)? I didn’t. The Soviets have own 1,204 just to put things in perspective. Norway rocks across the board owning more Winter Olympic medals than any other country. Canada is the only country to host two Olympic Games (1976 in Montreal and 1988 in Calgary) and not win a gold medal. I have faith Canada will walk away with more than a few gold medals’ this February.
I ask myself why I caught the fever? Why am I so taken with the onslaught of elite athletes and the performances we will soon witness in our backyards? Why am I a student of the 2010 Games like no other Games before? Perhaps as I mature as an individual and also a professional athlete in my own right, a healthy sense of curiosity has evolved inside to learn more about these Olympians and how they channel their passion and focus on their goal. When I read their stories, I think about their journey as an athlete and how they prepared day in and day out to finally be on the start line, much like I do to prepare for my sport. I think about how they were supported by friends, family, coaches, and therapists to make this experience a reality. Each story, no matter the sport, gives hope and inspiration. It offers possibility and belief in dreams becoming a reality. It doesn’t have to be the Olympics. It can be as small as running one block. No matter the person, goal or sport, it is relative and something we, all of us, can relate to.
The other day in the pool, I witnessed a performance that impressed me. I call it a performance because it was just that. Even though it was just at an early morning swim practice, it was still a performance. Our lane is comprised of a couple exceptional swimmers breaking water for a few drafters. The most exceptional swimmer (high level athlete, coach and confident individual) normally leads out the lane and we all follow either a respectable ten seconds behind (five, if you need a draft). On this particular day, our trusted leader was exceptionally tired. I could tell by his body language that he was hoping for a casual swim. Unfortunately, he was being tailed by the second person by two seconds (hardly respectable distance) who was easier riding in his wake the entire swim practice. My admiration for our leader surfaced when I observed how calm and collected he remained. He stayed the course, executed the workout impeccably and dug for energy, strength and focus till the last bitter length. Despite an incredibly arrogant follower showcasing his ego by swimming on his feet, there was not a dent in our leaders armor. Sounds trite to retell the story but in fact it was the epitome of executing a performance under stress and pressure. I suspect we will witness a few solid performances during the Games where focus and boundaries will be of utmost importance.
And so when the Games arrive and I either attend or watch on TV, I’ll be watching for the subtle expressions on the athlete’s faces, their pre-race preparation, their ability to overcome adversity or react to less than ideal situation. I’ll be watching them celebrate their victories and revel in the joy of accomplishment. I’ll be watching the athletes interact with their competition and how they respect each other, their country and their support networks. As an athlete myself, I will relate to them on some level and hopefully integrate some of what impresses me about them.
Go Canada Go
